Thieves rob Norman convenience store of lottery tickets

Wednesday, October 26th 2005, 5:58 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- State lottery officials are considering new security policies after two men robbed a Norman convenience store at gunpoint, taking all the store's lottery tickets.

Norman police say two men walked into Campus Market about 4:50 AM Tuesday and took cash, cigarettes and the tickets.

Store owner Robin Allen says she tried to notify the state Lottery Commission, but couldn't contact anyone. Allen says she called the company that provides lottery services, but was told only the commission can deactivate the tickets.

Lottery director Jim Scroggins says he hopes to hire additional staff so the theft of tickets can be reported immediately. And Scroggins says the stolen tickets were deactivated as soon as lottery officials learned of the theft and anyone trying to cash one of the stolen tickets will be told to go to the Lottery Commission.

Meanwhile, Allen says she's considering no longer selling lottery tickets at her three convenience stores because of the potential of danger to store clerks.